Author: John Van Hagen Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers ISBN: 1532675801 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 140
Book Description
In Agnostic at the Altar, former Catholic priest and psychologist John Van Hagen engages the voices of the ancient Jewish prophets in an effort to find something of a universal voice that speaks to all people. He builds upon the work of Scripture scholars, religious writers, and his own experiences to pave a path by which readers can engage in religion, while at the same time defending against harmful religious claims and practices. The prophets, who first appeared in Palestine in the Axial Age, translated their experience of the transcendent into magnificent stories that began with a time of intimacy with their God, a later time of betrayal and turmoil, and a future reconciliation at the end of time. Later, Christians adopted these themes as their own. Their stories emphasize justice and right worship as a way toward a meaningful and peaceful future. Their insights into a spiritual dimension of reality brought purpose to millions of lives. In this uncertain time of increasing global tension and strife, they could do the same for us. Agnostic at the Altar makes a compelling case that the ancient prescriptions for a just way of living together are not only historically significant, but in perfect keeping with an evolutionary-based desire that all people live in harmony.
Author: Ryan Bedell Publisher: ISBN: 9781008940666 Category : Languages : en Pages : 306
Book Description
"Altar Boy to Atheist: Giving Up God" is as much a random collection of thoughts about the world as it is the story of someone discovering themselves anew throughout different periods of their life. Ryan Bedell grew up Catholic, and now he's not. The book tries to explain why and how Ryan went from youth group leader to an agnostic atheist, and his stories of different religious experiences around the world will resonate with readers from any background.
Author: Stephen T. Asma Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0190469692 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 288
Book Description
How we feel is as vital to our survival as how we think. This claim, based on the premise that emotions are largely adaptive, serves as the organizing theme of Why We Need Religion. This book is a novel pathway in a well-trodden field of religious studies and philosophy of religion. Stephen Asma argues that, like art, religion has direct access to our emotional lives in ways that science does not. Yes, science can give us emotional feelings of wonder and the sublime--we can feel the sacred depths of nature--but there are many forms of human suffering and vulnerability that are beyond the reach of help from science. Different emotional stresses require different kinds of rescue. Unlike secular authors who praise religion's ethical and civilizing function, Asma argues that its core value lies in its emotionally therapeutic power. No theorist of religion has failed to notice the importance of emotions in spiritual and ritual life, but truly systematic research has only recently delivered concrete data on the neurology, psychology, and anthropology of the emotional systems. This very recent "affective turn" has begun to map out a powerful territory of embodied cognition. Why We Need Religion incorporates new data from these affective sciences into the philosophy of religion. It goes on to describe the way in which religion manages those systems--rage, play, lust, care, grief, and so on. Finally, it argues that religion is still the best cultural apparatus for doing this adaptive work. In short, the book is a Darwinian defense of religious emotions and the cultural systems that manage them.
Author: Graham Oppy Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 1108638430 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 109
Book Description
This Element is an elementary introduction to atheism and agnosticism. It begins with a careful characterisation of atheism and agnosticism, distinguishing them from many other things with which they are often conflated. After a brief discussion of the theoretical framework within which atheism and agnosticism are properly evaluated, it then turns to the sketching of cases for atheism and agnosticism. In both cases, the aim is not conviction, but rather advancement of understanding: the point of the cases is to make it intelligible why some take themselves to have compelling reason to adopt atheism or agnosticism.
Author: Pat Schatzline Publisher: Charisma Media ISBN: 1629991465 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 260
Book Description
The Holy Spirit has become a stranger. Many long for a closer walk with God, but He seems far away. They go to church. They read the Bible. But they don't experience His presence. Why? Because many have forsaken the altar--the place where God is found. When we truly encounter Him again, the light and power of God will flow to our homes, then to our houses of worship, then to the nation, and we will never be the same. In Rebuilding the Altar authors Pat and Karen Schatzline passionately challenge you to return to the altar. You see, the altar is not just a physical location or an instrument in a church or synagogue. Through Christ we can experience a daily encounter with Jesus, who became our altar. We must declare this truth to the deceived. We must raise a standard of holiness and no compromise. We must bring hope to the hurting. It's time for change. It's time to return to the altar...and encounter God.
Author: Raymond A. Hult Publisher: Trafford Publishing ISBN: 1426987358 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 203
Book Description
American Agnostic argues that the true worth of an American should not be based on an individual's faith or uncertainty in the reality of a biblical God. American Agnostic is an atempt by author Raymond A. Hult to bridge the unfortunate gap of mistrust and disrespect that too often currently exists in America between members of the Christian majority and the agnostic minority. Hult places the responsibility for achieving a mutually respectful understanding equally on the shoulders of both those who fervently believe in the Christian God and those who are as yet still unsure. He tries to show that moral behavior is more often than not unrelated to a person's religious persuasion. American Agnostic engages Christians and agnostics in a frank discussion of the main differences of opinion that separate both groups in regard to the authenticity of the Bible and the reality of the God as presented therein. Drawing on his transformation from a devout Christina leader to a questioning agnostic, the author recounts in detail the thought process that led to his gradual change of belief. He respectively defends this change as reasonable and deserving of serious consideration. He seeks to portray the agnostic in a more favorable light and that there is nothing inherently evil with admitting that a sure knowledge of God may not be so sure after all.
Author: Mayow Wynell Mayow Publisher: Good Press ISBN: Category : Fiction Languages : en Pages : 103
Book Description
"Eight Sermons on the Priesthood, Altar, and Sacrifice" were created when, according to the author, the principles of Christianity were freely questioned as the most doubtful and disputed points. The author aimed to defend the Catholic doctrine of the priesthood, the altar, and the sacrifice to close the confusion between what is Catholic and what is Roman in the tradition of the reformed Church of England.
Author: Eugene Rolfe Publisher: London : Skeffington ISBN: Category : Apologetics Languages : en Pages : 254
Book Description
For many people today only a vacuum exists where once there was a reconciling force between Man and God. The result is confusion, and the author of this forceful book places the responsibility as much with the Church as with the skeptics, because the Church still clings to outworn metaphysical tenets which modern man cannot accept. Yet, when seen not as "factual" statements, but as a means of religious communication through images, Christian orthodoxy can be shown to be pragmatically and psychologically true, and essential to balanced living. This, the author maintains, is especially evident in the realms of prayer and the Eucharist.--From publisher description.
Author: John Van Hagen
Author: Ryan Bedell
Author: Stephen T. Asma
Author: JOHN L. STODDARD
Author: Graham Oppy
Author: Pat Schatzline
Author: M Krishna
Author: Raymond A. Hult
Author: Mayow Wynell Mayow
Author: Eugene Rolfe